Barrel blocking apparatus and process

ABSTRACT

A blocking member which mounts to a semi-automatic handgun provides for a face plate that prevents the gun slide from a cocked gun from being immobilized by pressure applied to the front of the muzzle.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/475,363 filed Mar. 23, 2017 and which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed towards an apparatus and process of using theapparatus which prevents a semi-automatic handgun from being renderedinoperative when pressure is applied against the muzzle bore on frontslide area of the handgun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to semi-automatic handguns such asthose manufactured by Glock® and Sig®. These semi-automatic handgunsoperate using a cocking mechanism in which the slide of the gun definingthe gun bore and muzzle will slide relative to a lower rail formed by aframe of the gun. One consequence of this cocking mechanism is that ifpressure applied to the muzzle/bore/front of the slide mechanism, whilethe gun is cocked, the gun can be rendered inoperative until thepressure is released. In close quarter combat situations if the handgunis pressed against a person's body or other object, pressure can preventthe fire arm from being discharged. As a result, the ability of the firearm users to discharge the weapon can be compromised if an assailantintentionally applies pressure against the muzzle portion of the gun orthe gun is held against an object.

Accordingly, there remains room for improvement within the art of asemi-automatic handguns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to providefor a blocking member for placing opposite the slide of a semi-automatichandgun comprising a face plate positioned opposite a muzzle boredefined within a slide of a handgun; a mounting mechanism for securingthe face plate to the handgun wherein when the blocking member isattached to the handgun, the face plate prevents force from beingapplied to the terminal end of the slide mechanism which would renderthe firearm from being discharged.

It is one aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to providefor a blocking member wherein the face plate is positioned at a rightangle relative to the mounting mechanism and the mounting mechanism isadapted for securing to a rail of handgun.

It is one aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to providefor a process of preventing a mechanical binding of a slide mechanism ofa handgun comprising the steps of placing a face plate portion of ablocking member in a position opposite a terminal end of a slide of ahandgun and in proximity to a muzzle bore; securing the blocking memberto a location defined by the handgun, the location being one other thanthe slide; wherein when the barrel of the handgun is pressed against asolid surface, the blocking member prevents the gun slide from beingmoved into a non-firing position.

It is one aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to providefor a blocking member as described above wherein the mounting mechanismfurther defines on a lower surface an accessory rail that can be used toattach a flashlight, a laser sight, and other accessories.

It is one aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to providefor a blocking member as described above wherein when the face plate ispositioned opposite a muzzle bore the face plate does not extend above asurface plane of an upper surface of the hand gun slide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fully enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the bestmode thereof to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth moreparticularly in the remainder of the specification, including referenceto the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a perspective view of the blocking memberpositioned relative to the rail and slide of the semi-automatic handgun.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a terminal end of a gun slide and rail showingthe blocking member and attachment portion relative to the components ofthe handgun.

FIGS. 3-5 are respective views of the slide member and attachmentportion of the slide member as seen in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an accessory mounting rail that can bepositioned along a lower surface of the attachment member portion.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a hand gun showing the blocking memberinstalled with an accessory light suspended from a rail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of theinvention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, notlimitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be madein the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, andaspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following detaileddescription. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the artthat the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodimentsonly and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the presentinvention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplaryconstructions.

In describing the various figures herein, the same reference numbers areused throughout to describe the same material, apparatus, or processpathway. To avoid redundancy, detailed descriptions of much of theapparatus once described in relation to a figure is not repeated in thedescriptions of subsequent figures, although such apparatus or processis labeled with the same reference numbers.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a blocking member 10 defining aface plate 11 can be positioned opposite a muzzle 114 of a handgun 100.The muzzle 114 and the associate muzzle bore is associated with theslide 110 of the handgun and is positioned above the handgun rail 112.

As seen in references to FIGS. 1 and 2, the blocking member 10 candefine an aperture 12 which is in open communication with the muzzle114. While the illustrated embodiment shows an aperture 12, other shapedopenings within the blocking member could be provided includingsemi-circles, portions of a circle, or a horseshoe shape which allows abullet to exit the muzzle while at the same time providing a blockingmember having a face plate 11 that protects the slide 110 from beingmoved by, an applied force.

In normal operation of the handgun 100, slide 110 is pulled in adirection toward the butt end of the gun which cocks the firearm.However, when the firearm is in the cocked position, if pressure isapplied against the muzzle and surrounding front portion of slide 110,the firearm will not discharge. Accordingly it is found in accordancewith this invention that positioning a face plate 11 of a blockingmember 10 having an opening 12 that allows a projectile to pass canprevent the gun from being rendered inoperable if axial directedpressure were applied to the muzzle area of the gun.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the face plate 11 can be secondto a mounting plate 20 which may be positioned to any portion of thehandgun that is not part of the slide 110. In the illustratedembodiments, the mounting plate 20 is configured to operably engage thelower surface of rail 112 using a tongue and groove configuration thatconforms to the accessory rail design of the particular fire armmanufacturer. The rails 22 are best seen in reference to FIG. 3 and canbe of any shape or configuration needed in order to engage theappropriate railing system of the fire arm. An aperture 24 is providedwithin the mounting apparatus 20 to allow mounting bracket to be firmlysecured to the rail. Typically, the, fire arm manufacturer will have apreformed aperture which will align with aperture 24 such thatappropriate accessories can be secured to the rail.

As seen in reference to FIG. 1, threaded fasteners 15 may be used toattach the face plate 11 to a front edge of mounting plate 20. In theillustrated embodiment, the blocking member 10 forms a right angleconfiguration between the face plate 11 and the mounting plate 20 whenproperly oriented and installed unto a rail portion 112 of the handgun100.

In the illustrated embodiments, the mounting apparatus is secured to alower surface of rail 112. However, as long as the blocking, member 10is secured, to a non rail portion of the handgun, the face plate 11 iskept stationary relative to any movement of the slide 110. As such, thefixed nature of the blocking member 10 and face plate 11 relative to theslide 110 will prevent any forward pressure applied against the muzzleor surrounding portion of the muzzle from pushing against the slide andthereby rendering the handgun inoperative. Accordingly, the use of theblocking member 10 allows for the handgun to be discharged when pressedagain an assailant's body or otherwise pushed against an object. Thisability is important in close quarter encounters or where an assailantmay intentionally try to render the handgun inoperative by engaging theslide mechanism.

While the preferred embodiment shows the face plate 11 secured to amounting apparatus such as mounting plate 20 where the mounting plate 20is secured to a lower portion of rail 110, the mounting plate 20 couldhave other configurations such that it attaches to one or more edges ofrail 112, or is secured, to some other portion of gun frame. However,preferred configurations are those of which avoid any increase in theeffective width of the gun such that conventional holsters and otheraccessories can be utilized.

As seen in FIG. 2, there may be a small, gap between the muzzle 114 andthe blocking member 10. However, in other configurations, there need notbe any space provided on a surface of the face plate 11 can completelyor partially surround muzzle 114 and portions of the face, plate 11 canphysically touch the terminal end of slide 110.

The components of the blocking member 10 can be formed of a singleunitary construction or can be fabricated from separate parts asillustrated. The materials composing the mounting apparatus 20 and faceplate 11 can be of any suitable metal or temperature and impactresistant polymer including materials that may be utilized in theconstruction of the firearm. As such, appropriate colors can be used tomatch the firearm.

While the width of the face plate 11 is shown substantially equal tothat, of the width of the slide portion 110 of the handgun, one ofordinary skill in the art would realize that the function of the faceplate 11 can be carried out with a variety of different shaped and sizedpieces. An effective face plate can be provided having a width less thanthe width of the slide member and a height of the face plate can be lessthan a height of the slide member.

As seen in reference to FIG. 6, a conventional accessory rail 130 isillustrated. An accessory rail 130 can be attached to a surface of themounting apparatus 20 to allow gun accessories 140 to be mounted to thehandgun. As seen in FIG. 7, a light 140 is attached to the accessoryrail.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedusing specific terms, devices, and methods, such description is forillustrative purposes only. The words used are words of descriptionrather than of limitation. It is to be understood that changes andvariations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit or the scope of the present invention as setforth herein. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of thevarious embodiments may be interchanged, both in whole, or in part.Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should not be limitedto the description of the preferred versions contained therein.

That which is claimed:
 1. A blocking member for placing opposite theslide of a semi-automatic handgun comprising: a face plate positionedopposite a muzzle bore defined within a slide of a handgun; a mountingmechanism for securing the face plate to the handgun wherein when theblocking member is attached to the handgun, the face plate preventsforce from being applied to the terminal end of the slide mechanismwhich would render the firearm from being discharged.
 2. The blockingmember according to claim 1 wherein the mounting member is positioned ata right angle relative to the face plate and the mounting member isadapted for securing to a rail of a handgun.
 3. A process of preventinga mechanical binding of a slide mechanism of a handgun comprising thesteps of: placing a face plate of a blocking member in a positionopposite a terminal end of a slide of a handgun and in proximity to amuzzle bore; securing the blocking member to a location defined by thehandgun, the location being one other than the slide; wherein when thebarrel of the handgun is pressed against a solid surface, the faceplate, portion of the blocking member prevents the gun slide from beingmoved into a non firing position.
 4. The blocking member according toclaim 1 wherein the mounting mechanism further defines on a lowersurface an accessory rail that can be used to attach a flashlight, alaser sight, and other accessories.
 5. The blocking member according toclaim 1 wherein when the face plate is positioned opposite a muzzle borethe face plate does not extend above a surface plane of an upper surfaceof the hand gun slide.